This is What's Trending Today.
The coffee company Starbucks said its chief executive officer, Howard Schultz, plans to leave his position in April of 2017. He will reportedly work on a new Starbucks brand.
Schultz, 63, is credited with greatly expanding the company and its brand worldwide. He began working with Starbucks in 1982 as the operations and marketing director. At the time, Starbucks had just four coffee shops. All were in Seattle, Washington.
Today, the company has 24,000 stores in 70 countries.
Starbucks opened its first store outside of the U.S. in 1996 in Tokyo, Japan. Since then, Starbucks stores have opened in China, Dubai, Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea, Mexico and many other places.
Schultz was the company's CEO from 1987 until 2000. He became the CEO again in 2008. Kevin Johnson will replace him. Johnson is currently the company's chief operating officer and once worked with Microsoft.
Schultz said that after he steps down, he will work to make a special Starbucks brand bigger. That brand is called Starbucks Reserve. It serves high-quality drinks. The coffee served in its cafes can be two times more expensive than regular Starbucks coffee.
There are still very few Starbucks Reserve stores. But, Starbucks reportedly plans to open many more of these cafes around the world in the near future.
People reacted to the news of Schultz's departure on social media. Some Twitter users had not heard of Starbucks Reserve stores before.
One person wrote: “high-end coffee? Isn't that what Starbucks is? If paying $3.16 for an iced medium coffee isn't high-end, I don't know what is.”
high end coffee?Isn't that what Starbucks is? If paying 3.16 for an iced medium coffee isn't high end,don't know what is.
— cds1029 (@cds1029) December 1, 2016
Another person wrote: “I'll not purchase one $12 coffee in my lifetime.”
Not "breaking news", but guess what? I'll not purchase one $12 coffee in my lifetime. That's my news to you, @Starbucks!
— Victoria Iamurri (@Victoria_Iamurr) December 1, 2016
Others on social media wondered if Schultz was considering running for president in 2020. He supported Democrat Hillary Clinton in the recent U.S. elections.
And that's What's Trending Today.
I'm Dan Friedell.
Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.
What do you think of the Starbucks change? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.
Words in This Story
brand - n. a category of products that are all made by a particular company and all have a particular name
chain - n. a group of businesses (such as stores, restaurants, or hotels) that have the same name and basic appearance and sell the same products or services
high-end - adj. higher in price and of better quality than most others
credit - v. to give honor or recognition to (someone or something) for doing something or for making something happen
